Saturday, March 28, 2009

I’m writing in support for the immediate release of both American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee, who were detained by North Korean soldiers for "intruding" over the border from China while on a reporting trip. Your Korean Central News Agency “ to develop the friendly and cooperative relations with foreign news agencies” statement on your internet web site coincides with journalist throughout the world. As Journalist’s, we have one thing in common, to try and get a news worthy article which could bring attention to an issue affecting others in plight.” In this case, both Ling and Lee were trying to report and headed to the Chinese city of Yanji, across the border from North Korea's far northeastern corner, where they planned to interview women forced by human traffickers to strip for online customers, according to the Rev. Chun Ki-won of the Seoul-based Durihana Mission, a Christian group that helps defectors. They also planned to meet with children of defectors, said Chun, who helped the journalists organize the trip. Many children who grow up on the run in China live in legal limbo, unable even to attend school, according to a 2008 Human Rights Watch report, and reported by the Associated Press. As a journalist myself, I joined the thousands of journalists from around the world in sending this message to officials with authority to release both Ling and Lee. North Korea is a nation in need of diplomatic acknowledgement. With the immediate release of both Ling and Lee, it can no doubt bring about a positive dialogue and diplomatic gesture for open peaceful means resulting in mutual working relations with other nations.Their immediate release will send a strong message that North Korea is a nation of people striving to create diplomatic relations with nations willing to compromise political differences with mutual peace and preservation of life.Life is the most valuable worldly gift, and peace is the key to perseverance. To North Korean government officials having the authority to release both Ling and Lee, I appeal to your humane and compassion ability to release them.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

More than 198 Latinos want the State Legislative Finance Committee to include license certificates in state budget

By H. Nelson GoodsonMarch 25, 2009

Milwaukee- On Wednesday, an estimated 198 Latinos and non-Latinos went in front of the State Legislative Joint Finance Committee at the Wisconsin State Fair public hearing to request a provision be added for license certificates in the state budget. Father Eleazar Perez Rodriguez told the committee that undocumented immigrants should be afforded the right to carry a Wisconsin Driver’s License, but in this case a license certificate not deemed for federal identification purposes could be provided by the state, according to the Real ID Act. The REAL ID Act of 2005 is a U.S. federal law that imposes certain security, authentication, and issuance procedures standards for the state driver's licenses and state ID cards, for them to be accepted by the federal government for "official purposes", as defined by the Secretary of Homeland Security.The state finance committee has yet to decide, if they will include a provision for license certificates. Although, Governor Jim Doyle is recommending in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants for the 2009-’11 executive budget proposal. Doyle’s provision allows undocumented immigrants living in the state and attending a high school for three years to be charged tuition as a state resident instead as an out of state resident. Immigrants would have to prove they have graduated from a Wisconsin high school and expected to apply for U.S. citizenship when they become eligible to do so.The Daily Cardinal reported, “Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities chair Rep. Kim Hixson, D-Whitewater, said the Illegal Immigrant Reform and Immigrant Reconciliation Act of 1996 may conflict with Doyle’s proposal because it would require the state to grant all U.S. citizens in-state tuition as well.“Then we couldn’t charge out-of-state tuition, and out of state tuition is very important to the university because it [not only] pays for that student’s education, but also it subsidizes Wisconsin citizens’ education,” Hixson said.Currently, 10 other states have laws permitting undocumented citizens who meet certain requirements to pay in-state tuition at public universities.According to documents from the National Immigration Law Center, the requirements undocumented residents must meet to pay in-state tuition—such as graduating from Wisconsin high schools—prevent such laws from contradicting the federal law.The UW Board of Regents has previously taken a position in favor of the proposal and in 2007, former regent Jesus Salas resigned when the state budget passed without this provision,” according to a report by Megan Orear in The Daily Cardinal from the University of Wisconsin-Madison dated March 23, 2009.

Monday, March 23, 2009

An estimated 5 million children who are U.S. citizens has had a parent detained, waiting deportation or deported by U.S. ICE

By H. Nelson GoodsonMarch 22, 2009

Milwaukee- Both U.S. Representatives Gwen Moore (D-WI) and Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL) on Sunday, March 22, 2009 were at the South side St. Adalbert’s Catholic Church, in 1900 block of W. Becher St. seeking support for immigration reform to keep families together. The national listening tour focuses in taking testimony from families affected by a parent or parents who were detained, waiting deportation or have already been deported. The Gutierrez listening tour was scheduled for 17 major cities and have added three more cities. Religious members of the Milwaukee Inner City Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH) sponsored the event for Milwaukee. The group is composed of 50 local faith and religious leaders who decided to form the Family Unity Committee of Wisconsin in support of Comprehensive Immigration Reform.Gutierrez told parishioners and members of the Milwaukee Latino community attending the event that other members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) have held similar meetings and the tour is expected to end on April 4 in Philadelphia. The CHC members met with President Barack Obama two weeks ago, and explained to the President that an estimated 5 million children who are U.S. citizens have a parent who has been deported, is awaiting deportation or is threatened by deportation, Gutierrez said. Rep. Gutierrez delivered to the President more than 5,500 petitions signed by US citizens appealing to their President and elected officials for immigration reform that keeps families together, according to Gutierrez's Washington office.The South side of Milwaukee became the 12th stop for the Gutierrez tour, and is well known as a Hispanic predominately area. In the Summer of 2006, Latinos locally and throughout the nation came together in unity to organize, create a network, Latinos and non-Latinos marched in the millions for immigration reform, and formed a Hispanic voting block that helped Democrats to become the majority in both the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Two years later on November 4, 2008, Latinos were a determining block in electing the first African-American U.S. President Barack Obama (D-IL).After the Democrats took control of the U.S. Congress, a Comprehensive Immigration bill was introduced six months later, but it was short lived when Congress failed to act on it. The bill died on the floor.Since then, Latinos have been disappointment with the lack of support by numerous U.S. Representatives and Senators for not addressing and introducing another Immigration Reform bill. These Democrats were elected to address and finally resolve the immigration reform issue. They have yet to stand up in a unified effort to actually introduce another immigration reform bill. Did they forget that Latinos actually were the determining voting block that elected them to become the majority in both houses, in 2006, and helped elect a Democrat for President on Nov. 4th, 2008? Get to work Democrats!

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Milwaukee- Last Tuesday, the Contract Management Team and a Plan Advisory Group held an open meeting to showcase what they call the “Near South Side Area Plan” at the Harley-Davidson museum. The South side comprehensive development plan had been on the works for the past three years. The Milwaukee Department of City Development (DCD) along with the Southside Organizing Committee and advisory group crafted the plan. The plan focuses on mass development of South side areas, and most likely lead to gentrification, a process of renewal accompanying the influx of middle-class people into deteriorating areas that often displaces earlier poorer residents within the South side. Properties will most likely be sold at below market price and later sold at higher prices making the South side area a marketable land grabbing scenario. Downtown is most likely expanding to the South side, as seen through the development of the Menomonee Valley where the new Harley-Davidson Museum is located on Canal St.Vacant lots and deteriorating properties will be targeted for development to the highest bidder such as corporations, companies, manufactures, and real estate investors willing to develop an area between S. 43 St. to S. 1st St. and from W. Montana St. to the Soo Line Rail Road boundary in the Menomonee Valley.Affected by the project will most likely be the predominately Latino community. Once the project is approved by the Common Council on May 27, 2009, prospective investors and developers will begin converting the area. Latinos and residents will most likely be driven to other Milwaukee affordable areas to live, since property values will increase dramatically and property taxes will also increase as a result of developing the area. Residents who reside in the area mentioned should provide an input and become part of the inevitable change, the expected gentrification, and development in progress.The City of Milwaukee awarded $75,000 and the Plan Advisory Group raised another $75,000 to match the funds for the project. Consultants HNTB and Abrazo were paid nearly $150,000 to head the initial plans and provide services such props and other items to help explain the project. HNTB is a multidisciplinary firm known and respected for our work in transportation, bridges, aviation, architecture, urban design and planning, environmental engineering, water and construction services. Sub consultants are ABRAZO, ¡Aquí!, and The Center for Neighborhood Technology.The funding partners are the 5th Ward Association, Associated Bank, Continental Savings Bank, Council for the Spanish Speaking, E & Co., Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Hope House, Layton State Bank, Lincoln Neighborhood Redevelopment Corporation, M&I, Mitchell Bank, Rockwell Automation, Sonag Company, Inc., Thomas A. Mason Co., Tri City National Bank, U.S. Bank, and Vidal & Associates, according to DCD.Next public hearings will be held on April 20, at 1:30 p.m. at the City Plan Commission, 1st floor Board Room, 809 N. Broadway. The next meeting at, the Zoning, Neighborhoods, and Development Committee, on May 19, at 9:00 a.m. in Room 301 B, City Hall, 200 E. Wells St. Finally, the Common Council is scheduled to vote on the plan on May 27, at 9:00 a.m. in the Common Council Chambers in Room 301 B at City Hall, 200 E. Wells St. in Milwaukee.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Viva Entertainment Network dance promoters criticized after band played only three songs at Eagle’s Club

By H. Nelson GoodsonMarch 11, 2009

Milwaukee- Chicago’s Viva Entertainment Network (Viva) promoters associated with Aragon Entertainment Center, 1106 W Lawrence Ave, Chicago, IL. are taking heat from numerous couples for being short changed when they attended the St. Valentine’s Dance at the Milwaukee Eagle’s Club in February. The couples ended up paying 60 dollars for each person at the door. Because the advanced tickets were sold out. “In our party, there were three of us and we paid 180 dollars in total to get into the dance. We actually went to hear la Sonora Santanera de Carlos Colorado, who played last and only played three songs,” Odette Martinez said. Martinez was very disappointed and wanted a refund. She along with her party went to speak with the Chicago Viva promoters collecting the tickets and cash from the dance. Martinez noticed they had left the event. That Saturday night in Milwaukee an estimated $75,000 was generated from the more than 1,500 people that attended including three hundred people who paid $60 at the door. That same night La Sonora Santanera was also scheduled to perform at Los Globos Ballroom, and at the Aragon Entertainment Center Ballroom, both located in Chicago. “I’m disappointed to hear that these Viva promoters generate thousands of dollars from fans of the groups performing and they can’t even refund any money to unsatisfied fans when for unexpected reasons a band failed to perform their full set,” said Julia Negrete Smith an avid dancer from Mexico D.F. who was at the event.Martinez contacted Viva Entertainment who sponsored the dance at their contact number 773-561-9500, which was displayed on their advertisement post cards a few days after the event. She even went to Super Mercado El Rey on S. Cesar E. Chavez Dr. where advanced tickets were sold to complain about the mishap. Tickets for the Viva events are also sold at 7 Mile Fair.Unfortunately after almost a month later, a representative from the Aragon Entertainment Center contacted her on Tuesday. Martinez said she tried to explain to the Aragon representative what had happened and he became rude, uncooperative and the call was disconnected.When El Conquistador Newspaper contacted the Aragon representative by the name of Mike Uribe Junior, he said La Sonora Santanera, Grupo Montez de Durango, Banda Viento, and Jinetes de Tierra Caliente had sets of 45 minutes each to play. But, Martinez and other people attending the dance on February 14th confirmed La Sonora Santanera had just played three songs. When El Conquistador asked Junior, if Mrs. Martinez would get a refund? Junior replied that “he was not worried about it.” He also added that for years no one had ever made a complaint. “I guess no one had actually taken time to complain until now,” Martinez said.On Tuesday, Martinez decided she doesn’t want a refund anymore, but would like to warned the Latino community in both Milwaukee and the Chicago area about the alleged music scam being conducted by Viva Entertainment and Aragon Entertainment Center from Chicago. This multi-million dollar venue is not really what it seems to provide and advertise. Both, Viva Entertainment and Aragon Entertainment Center have failed to warned the public through their advertising bliss in the midwest that the groups performing will actually perform at least 45 minutes per set each, but in Martinez’s case La Sonora Santanera had only played three songs. People who feel that they didn’t get their money’s worth of entertainment should contact these promoters and should ask for their refunds. The same Viva Entertainment promoters had El Recodo and other groups perform on March 7th and another venue with different groups is scheduled for March 21st at the Eagle’s Club once again. It’s a yearly million dollar operation, “which most likely these promoters don’t even get to pay a Wisconsin Tax,” commented a couple who did not want to be identified.However, Martinez said she will contact the Wisconsin Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, the Better Business Bureau, local news Telemundo TV 63 and Fox 6 television stations, and the state to make a complaint.Controversy over the lack of refunding money, and taking responsibility for groups not performing their full sets by Junior and both Viva Entertainment and Aragon Entertainment Center continues to brew. Most likely, their inept representatives might cost them millions when people begin to discover that they are better off skipping the dance and head to a nearby local music store and buy a recent CD of the groups performing for much less. They can enjoy their music for hours, especially today when we are facing hard economic hardships.The current owners operating under the name of Aragon Entertainment Center, are also the owners of Viva Entertainment, Viva Marketing Group and other venue throughout Chicagoland area, according to their internet web site.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Well the private sector, Wall Street, and Giant corporations are going belly up and people can't expect the private sector to bail us out. Most of them ran out of money and are cutting jobs.AIG already received over 30 billion from Big govt. and is not working? Probably, they will need another 60 billion. Some believe it's a waste. Entering into the seventh year of the Iraq war, it is actually costing more than 12 billion per month. Not including Afghan. war. The cost of both wars "beyond 2008, working with "best-case" and "realistic-moderate" scenarios, they project the Iraq and Afghan wars, including long-term U.S. military occupations of those countries, will cost the U.S. budget between $1.7 trillion and $2.7 trillion — or more — by 2017. Interest on money borrowed to pay those costs could alone add $816 billion to that bottom line. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has done its own projections and comes in lower, forecasting a cumulative cost by 2017 of $1.2 trillion to $1.7 trillion for the two wars, with Iraq generally accounting for three-quarters of the costs," according to an article dated March 9, 2008 by Charles J. Hanley AP Special Correspondent.To many, this money should have gone to people already on the unemployment ghost list who are no longer statistics because they no longer qualify for unemployment insurance compensation. Most of them have become homeless and are trying to survive in the streets of our cities, and states.To the majority of Americans, the only way out is the President Obama bail out, despite what the other political perspective thinks. They were in power for the last 8 years. Wasn't it them and their President who got us into this economic mess? Absolutely! Hopefully, we as a united nation can get back up on our feet, and become a prosperous nation once again. Give the Economic Bail Out Recovery plan a chance... could be the only way for economic recovery.Damn, I shouldn't have drank that energy drink...now I'm writng on.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Washington, D.C. - The raid late last month in Bellingham, Washington by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has definitely sparked a new debate over accountability of our federal law enforcement agencies. Janet Napolitano, the new Homeland security secretary didn’t even know a raid had been planned for months and executed by U.S. ICE and Homeland security officials. Immigration officials arrested 28 undocumented immigrants working at Yamato Engine Specialists during the raid. Napolitano says she will investigate, but came short of flexing her authority to led these federal officials know that they are now working for a new Homeland security secretary. Whose President and Congress with a majority of Democrats has a different view on immigration enforcement.Should rogue U.S. ICE and Homeland security officials responsible for the covert immigration raid be held accountable? For their over zealous attempt to challenge Napolitano’s and President Barack Obama’s immigration stance. Obama wants work-site enforcement to be focused on the employers who hire undocumented immigrants. Obama’s approach on immigration enforcement is quite different then former President George W. Bush.Immigration rights groups and reform advocates are now organizing across the nation against this type of covert raids and are advocating accountability.In Arizona, last weekend several thousand people marched during a peaceful protest against Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Phoenix. The protesters want Arpaio to stop abusing U.S. ICE program 287(g), which allows designated law enforcement officers under supervision of U.S. ICE agents to exercise certain immigration enforcement authority. Arpaio is now accused of using local police and deputy sheriff’s as immigration officers without actual supervision of U.S. ICE agents to oversee the relentless immigration raids and sweeps in Latino neighborhoods. A new report from the Government Accountability Office shows that federal oversight of the 287(g) program has been sorely lacking, according to a March 3 editorial by the New York Times.The protesters in Phoenix have marched in large numbers, but now they need to get organized politically and recall Sheriff Joe Arpaio. I’m sure a potential candidate willing to bring criminals to justice instead of focusing primarily on immigration enforcement can challenge Arpaio. This country is still a democracy, isn’t it.

Milwaukee - On Tuesday, Bradley DeBraska, 53, former Milwaukee Police Association President waived his preliminary hearing and will go on trial. DeBraska who retired 2005 was charged back in February 13, with two felony counts, according to Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm. He is charged with one count of identity theft to obtain money or credit, and one count of forgery, both as party to a crime. DeBraska was once considered an influential figure within the ranks of the Milwaukee Police Department. He was a police officer for 27 years, including 17 as union president. DeBraska’s alleged corrupt and forgery scandal is now forcing the membership in the Milwaukee Police Association (MPA) to keep a distance from the former MPA president.Chisholm says that DeBraska ordered his union secretary Candy Johnson in July 2004 to fabricate a memo he dictated word by word pretending to be a 1999 memo from former Common Council President John Kalwitz to city labor negotiator Frank Forbes. The secretary who is testifying against DeBraska said he told her to “take this to the grave,” according to the criminal complaint. “Potentially millions in public money was affected by this document. This is serious business,” said Chisholm.The city wanted to used money from a pension fund, but the police union challenged their attempt to used more then $2 million to $3 million from the pension fund to upgrade pension computers. The city said it did not have a cap on spending, but DeBraska fabricated a memo saying that Kalwitz had agreed to a cap with “the ceiling of 3 million for ERS computer costs.”If convicted, DeBraska is facing 18 years in prison and up to $20,000 in fines. He remains free on a signature bond, according to court records.Political activists in Milwaukee say that they doubt DeBraska will serve any actual time in jail. They believe DeBraska still has very influential friends in the political scene and at City Hall who would rather see him get probation.

About Me

"Words conveyed by wisdom and truth influence inevitable change, Las palabras que contienen sabiduria y verdad influyen inevitablemente al cambio", H. Nelson Goodson said.
Goodson is well known in the local organizing community network. Nationally, Goodson is one of the foremost respected immigration rights and reform journalist.
He is also one of America's foremost Latino civil libertarian.
The Badger Blogger 2008, Patrick wrote: Mr. H. Nelson Goodson, "You have covered things that the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaper won't and you cover it in a way they fear." Posted on Badger Blogger on August 17th, 2007 at 6:39 p.m.
Goodson was instrumental in helping to coordinate the national Immigration movement early in 2006, which drew millions of supporters for immigration rights and reform. Goodson further encouraged numerous members of the Latino entertainment world to endorse and support immigration reform throughout the nation in 2006, published in "El Conquistador Newspaper" issue on November 21, 2008 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.A.
Currently, Goodson has more than 32 years experience in news investigative reporting. (2015)

Immigration March 2007

Goodson marched with immigrants calling for a just comprehensive immigration reform, which would create a path for legalization for more than 13 million undocumented immigrants and to keep families together.